Our Leadership Team

About Jay Reeder

With over 23 years in telecommunications, Jay Reeder built his career by creating innovative solutions to real-world challenges. He began crafting voicemail systems in high school, which led to his first “real” summer job at a telecommunications company called SDI. He worked as a software developer creating voicemail technology and within the first year, he had completely rewritten the company’s voicemail software platform. At 20 years old, Jay Reeder was selected to lead voicemail development for telecommunications giant ITT (Cortelco division).

In 1994 Mr. Reeder founded his first successful company, Revox, developing high-end voice platforms for telephone companies. This was followed by Atlanta Voicemail, VoicePlus, Buzzworks and ultimately VoiceNation in 2003. Due to the overwhelming success of VoiceNation, in 2009 Jay launched a revolutionary live answering call center, VoiceNation Live, that has experienced explosive growth.

In his capacity as a leader, Mr. Reeder is innovative, forward-thinking, smart and ambitious. He creates organizational cultures where staff can grow and excel – and a place for staff to be passionate about what they do. A compliment to his leadership style and thought, Mr. Reeder was acknowledged on Glassdoor’s 2014 list of “The 20 Highest Rated Telecom CEOs To Work For”. He is a leader who inspires, encourages, and offers opportunities to make the world a better place.

That world view of making the world a better place and helping people to succeed and grow dominates every aspect of his life. Jay is heavily involved in missionary efforts to improve the quality of life for those living in developing nations. Aside from mission trips, Jay formed Voice4Nations, to raise awareness of global issues and empower individuals to make a difference. On a local level, Voice4Nations works with the homeless community of Atlanta by donating time, computer access, food, clothing and necessary hygiene items. On a national level, Voice4Nations fights against the harmful effects of bullying with its Anti-Bully Initiative. Then on an international level makes tremendous efforts to end the global water crisis.

Out of Voice4Nations came Georgia CALLS in 2015, a nonprofit organization that helps returning citizens just getting out of prison to get back on their feet with a job, spiritual growth classes, counseling and high-level functioning development in an immersive classroom environment. Jay currently serves as Chief Catalyst as well as Chairman of the Board for Georgia CALLS. He is also serving as Chairman for SAFFT and other industry organizations in the region.

Mr. Reeder has been happily married for 16 years and in his spare time runs a Georgia alpaca farm with his wife and three boys in North Georgia.

About Graham Taylor

Raised in a small fishing village on the shores of Loch Fyne on the West coast of Scotland and educated in Glasgow, Graham Taylor has 25 years of computer systems and networking experience. Early in his career, Taylor worked on the financial details of the buyout of World Publishing, then the largest U.S. publisher, to make Collins Publishing the largest book publisher worldwide. The company is now known as HarperCollins Publishing Ltd. Recognizing the power computers would have in business, Taylor joined Cameron Communications as a systems analyst after obtaining a certificate in programming. He helped create one of the world’s first multimedia experiences by marrying IBM Corp.’s first personal computer with videodisc machines and a touch screen, and installing them in 3,000 of IBM’s retail centers in Europe. Taylor then moved into computer networking implementations with Clydeforth Ltd. of Glasgow. He spent 10 years setting up large networks for retailers throughout Europe, and moving up the executive ranks.

Taylor landed in the U.S. in 1999 when he married an Atlanta attorney specializing in child support and family law. Soon after his arrival Taylor became operations manager for Atlanta Voice Mail, where he doubled revenues within his first year and met up with Jay Reeder. Together they launched Voiceplus and in 2003, VoiceNation. In 2013, Taylor attained his United States Citizenship.
As co-founder and Vice President of Operations for VoiceNation, Taylor is responsible for the company’s high level of customer care. He also guides new product positioning for the fast-growing company. “We’re really selling solutions and getting a great reputation as problem solvers,” said Taylor. “We’re incredibly light on our feet and can change our tactics instantly to develop new products. No other company does their own development in house or can develop new solutions in just a couple of days.”

When not solving problems for customers or dreaming up new products, Taylor can be found expanding his artistic talents. He has a bachelor’s degree in photography from Glasgow College, and is a classically trained baritone who occasionally can be found playing the guitar in Atlanta pubs. Otherwise, one can find the Le Cordon Bleu trained chef whipping up a hearty meal in his kitchen or helping his wife to operate their non-profit dog rescue. Taylor is married and has an adult son and two grandchildren.

ERIC SCHURKE

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Eric oversees the day-to-day functions for both VoiceNation’s 24/7/365 contact centers. He ensures service levels are kept to the highest standard, reliability of services through redundant locations and innovative technology, continued staff development and training throughout the organization.

PAST LIVE + ACHIEVEMENTS
With over 13 years of industry experience, Eric has led his team to provide the highest level of quality answering services to thousands of businesses worldwide. His expertise in workforce optimization and strategic planning has created an innovative and reliable atmosphere at VoiceNation.

EDUCATION
B.A. – Business, Spanish minor, Piedmont College

PASSIONS + PURSUITS
Traveling with my wife of 13 years and pretty much anything outside, especially golf and mountain biking.

DAN LEVAK

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER GROWTH

Dan is responsible for conveying the energy and passion within VoiceNation’s people, products and services into meaningful communications with current and potential customers. Dan oversees the company’s marketing strategy and leads its marketing team, supporting VoiceNation’s growth and business goals across all traditional and digital marketing mediums.

PAST LIVES + ACHIEVEMENTS

For 16 years, Dan led the interactive marketing efforts for the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons, including web, social, mobile and video production. Under his guidance, the Falcons consistently ranked as one of the NFL’s most progressive, forward-thinking, and well-respected digital media organizations in all of professional sports. Dan served on numerous NFL marketing steering committees and was a key contributor to introducing fans to the landscape-shifting Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Atlanta’s resoundingly successful new Major League Soccer franchise, Atlanta United FC.

EDUCATIONB.A. – Business Management, Miami University

PASSIONS + PURSUITSDan enjoys seeing the world through his 7-year-old son’s eyes and spends his free time as a Cub Scout Den Leader, an avid golfer, and a voracious reader.INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” — Lionel Hampton

SHEILA DAVIDSON

DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE
Sheila is responsible for all HR processes and makes certain they are performed correctly and with excellence. While making sure VoiceNation is compliant legally with policy and procedure, Sheila is also responsible for the employee experience for all of the staff that VoiceNation employs. She creatively find innovative ways for the employee experience to be top notch – beginning with training throughout their tenure.

PAST LIVES + ACHIEVEMENTS
She is a Certified Educator with a demonstrated history of working in the telecommunications industry. Skilled in all-things Microsoft and personnel management, her expertise in coaching, human resources and customer service has increased VoiceNation’s staff development and growth over the past five years.

EDUCATION
Early Childhood Education, Piedmont College

PASSIONS + PURSUITS
A native of Clarkesville, Georgia and mother of two beautiful children.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
“The secret of success is consistency of purpose.”

CARLA HOUK

FINANCE MANAGER
Carla provides strong financial guidance and actionable business intelligence to senior leadership and other key stakeholders within VoiceNation. In addition to monitoring company cash flow and financial statements, Carla supports all departments within the organization by compiling and presenting various systems data while also overseeing payroll processing for more than 130 VoiceNation employees.

PAST LIVES + ACHIEVEMENTS
Carla brings 30 years of accounting and operations experience to the VoiceNation leadership team. Having worked within a variety of industries, Carla’s notable achievements include the development and customization of client databases using Microsoft Access during her tenure with a prominent gas leak detection company and the implementation of new accounting and payroll systems at VoiceNation.

EDUCATION
BA – Operations Management, Grove City College

PASSIONS + PURSUITS
Carla enjoys photography, cooking and reading, but most importantly, she treasures spending time with her husband of 28 years and their two amazing daughters.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending” – C.S. Lewis